Summer Band & Orchestra CampThe Plano ISD Fine Arts Department provides opportunities for summer music making for current middle school band and orchestra students. A variety of leveled student ensembles, as well as small ensemble experience is included. Plano ISD music staff, area instrumental specialists and outstanding clincian/conductors work with students daily. Click the link above for more information, registration and payment options.

Supplemental Music Lesson ProgramThis link provides details for students, parents and prospective music contractors regarding the Plano ISD program to provide individual private instruction for vocal and instrumental students in the district secondary music programs.

Sousa Sudler Cup - The
John Philip Sousa Foundation has named the Rice Middle School Band, under the able direction of Jason Tucker, Amber Garduno and David Lipe as a receipient of the 2015 Sudler Cup. This award seeks to "identify, recognize and honor the most selective junior high and middle school concert band programs for demonstrating significantly high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years." The physical award, a beautiful engraved silver cup, will be presented to the staff and students at a public performance in the Spring by members of the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Honor Orchestra Results - The results of the 2014 Honor Orchestra competition sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association were announced during the joint summer conferences in late July. Plano Senior High School Full Orchestra, under the direction of Brian Coatney, Tara Cesario and Jeremy Kondrat, was named High School Honor Full Orchestra and will perform for the TMEA participants at their annual Clinic/Convention to be held February 12-14, 2015 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. In the Middle School division Rice Middle School Orchestras earned second place in the Full Orchestra category and the String Orchestra ranked fifth in that competition. Congratulations go out to all of these fine musicians and their directors. In the String Orchestra competition held this fall Jasper High School Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Ryan Ross was named First Runner Up and Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Jo Wallace-Abbie placed third.

Mark of Excellence Award Winners - Nine Plano ISD ensembles were selected from a field of 224 entries from 35 states for distinction in the five categories of competition in 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards. National Winners included the Plano East Senior High School Wind Ensemble, Evelio Villarreal, director; Jasper High School Symphony Orchestra, Ryan Ross & Jackie Digby, directors; Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra, Betsy Thomas, director (retired); Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra, Jo Wallace-Abbie, director; and Murphy Middle School Chamber Orchestra, Brian Henson, director. Commended Honors went to the Clark High School Chamber Orchestra, Brian Eaton & Brad Davis, directors; Jasper High School Wind Ensemble, Jackie Digby, director; Rice Middle School Wind Ensemble, Jason Tucker, director; and Robinson Middle School Wind Ensemble. This competition, entered through performance recordings, in which the top quarter in each category are selected as National Winners and the second quarter receive Commended Honors.

Choral Excellence Award - Plano West SHS Choir Director, Kathy Hackett, received the 2014 Choral Excellence Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association at the general membership meeting in July. The award was presented in recognition of her distinquished career directing choirs in Kingwood and Plano that have performed at the highest levels of artistry. Choirs under Mrs. Hackett's direction have performed by invitation for the Texas Music Educators Association and American Choral Directors Association on multiple ocassions. We congratulate her and thank the TCDA membership for recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field of choral education.

The secondary music program of the Plano ISD is designed to provide opportunities for each student to develop his/her creative talents in a number of ways. The program consists of four areas---band, choir, orchestra, and music theory.

Music Theory is the study of the ways in which music and musical works are constructed and heard. While some fundamentals of music theory are studied as a part of the band, choir and orchestra curricula, this dedicated course of study is for students who wish to go deeper into this area of inquiry. Music Theory and Advanced Placement Music Theory courses are offered to interested students in the eleventh and twelfth grades.
Music Theory offers students opportunities to create, perform, listen to, and analyze music from various styles and genres (e.g. rock, pop, jazz and classical). Current technological developments are used in this class to provide "state of the art" learning opportunities.

Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory is the study of advanced music literacy, focusing on aural and written musical skills. This course covers material typically taught at a college freshman level. For students who plan to continue musical studies on the college level, this course will offer an essential opportunity for in-depth study and preparation. Current technological developments are used in this class to provide "state of the art" learning opportunities. Students enrolled in this course participate in enrichment events sponsored by AP Strategies as part of the AP Arts incentive program.

For further information, please contact any of the music theory teachers listed on the staff page, or the fine arts office at 469-752-3083.